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Central Canadian Shield forests (WWF ecoregion NA0602)


Greenwater Provincial Park, Ontario (c) 2005 Scott and Ruth Bassett

Source of bioregions data: Olson, D. M. and E. Dinerstein. The Global 200: Priority ecoregions for global conservation. (PDF file) Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89:125-126.

Distinctiveness (1=highest,4=lowest): 3 (bioregionally outstanding)
Plains in this ecoregion support some of the most productive boreal forests in North America.  A diverse collection of large mammals are present.*

Conservation Status (1=most endangered, 5=most intact): 4 (relatively stable)
Approximately 40% of the ecoregion remains intact.  Large-scale mechanized logging is the primary threat.*

Characteristic species*

Picea mariana (black spruce) (c) 2004 Maurice J. Kaurmann

Pinus banksiana (jack pine)
Betula papyrifera (paper birch)
 

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Picea glauca (white spruce)

Abies balsamea (balsam fir)

Some views from the ecoregion

black spruce near Hearst, Ontario (c) 2005 Scott and Ruth Bassett  hires

* Ricketts, T.H., E. Dinerstein, D.M. Olson, C.J. Loucks, et al.  (1999) Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment.  World Wildlife Fund - United States and Canada.  Island Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 337-340.

Except as noted, images copyright 2002-2004 Steve Baskauf - Terms of use